Come to My Party: And Other Shape Poems

by Heidi Roemer

Book Overview

An invigorating celebration of the seasons and poems that take shape The twist of spring rain. The arc of summer waves. The roundness of fall pumpkins. The curve of winter snow-covered hills. These are just a few of the many shapes found among the four seasons. So come celebrate the year in this spirited rhyming collection of concrete poems-poems shaped by their subjects that wind, bump, and wiggle across each page. From spring through winter and...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805066209
• ISBN13: 9780805066203
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 47 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.9" x 11.2"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

Clever!

What a great way to present poetry -- through shapes! The text of each of these poems is cleverly patterned like its topic, with adorable illustrations enhancing them. For example: a poem about rain has the words drizzle down like rain drops and then form the shape of an umbrella. The poems themselves are fun and representitive of some of childhood's most engaging activities and holidays. Poet, Heidi B. Roemer, has a true poet's ear that taps into the heart of children. Hideko Takahashi's illustrations of children of all colors are irresistable. Her bold and muted coloring seem to find the right balance to add even more delight to each poem. This book would be great in the classroom when studying poetry. It's a great way to introduce new poetry styles to children. But, it's also fun to read and look at. If this book doesn't get young ones hooked on poetry I don't know what will!

A Lovely Collection

Dancing LeavesCrimson and coralAnd yellow as butter-We reach up to snatchWaltzing leaves as they flutter.Hip hip hoorayFor fall's festive confetti!Let's heap the leaves up and jump!Are you ready?Picture those charming words falling like leaves across the page. Come To My Party and Other Shape Poems is a volume of thirty-eight seasonal concrete poems. There are very few collections of children's poetry whose focus is specifically on the concrete form. Ms. Roemer's poetry dances across the pages and in the imaginations of her lucky young audience. Her poetry form is enhanced beautifully by the playful illustrations of Hideko Takahashi. This would make a lovely edition to any children's library. I hope this talented new poet doesn't make her growing audience wait too long for her next collection.

Wee Ones Magazine, Book Review, Gives this a high five!

Words come alive in this beautifully written and illustrated picture book. Reading poetry is fun in Come to My Party, where the words become the pictures. This is a kid-friendly book from the types of poetry written as well as the bright and bold illustrations. Words make up a jump rope, a flock of geese and a snowy hill. Children will delight in this book and ask to read it again and again. The good thing is that it is fun for adults to read too! It celebrates not only the seasons, but the essence of being a kid! www.weeonesmag.com

Celebrate poetry with this winner!

This book is a treat for the eyes, ears, and tongue as the author and illustrator have created an incredible journey through the year in poetry and pictures. April is National Poetry Month, but the young person who receives this book as a gift will enjoy these poems all year long!

Kirkus Starred Review

KIRKUS Starred REVIEW:Roemer, Heidi B. March 01, 2004 - Text and pictures blend seamlessly in this outstanding offering-no mean feat, as Roemer's rhymes are all shaped to evoke seasonal sights: the V's of nestlings' open beaks and skeins of migrating geese, the fall of raindrops, the twist of the garden hose, the paths of "Dancing Leaves" in autumn. Read aloud, the verses irresistibly inviteaudience participation--"I take my little rake and my hoe, hoe, hoe;/And break up clods of firt in each row, row, row"-- but lend themselves to silent appreciation, too, as color changes, type sizes and artful placement work together to make them easily legible, even to less-practiced readers. Takahashi folds the shaped lines into her simple, richly hued outdoor scenes with seeming effortlessness, letting words not only rest within the compositions, but become elements of them, as Christmas tree branches, menorah candles, an owl's crest, and dandelion fluff. She also adds visual surprises and stories of her own, from a child's face that dramatically transforms into a snowman's, to a teeter-tottering mother and daughter withdifferent skin tones. A strong debut for Roemer and Takahashi's most inventive workyet. (Picture book/poetry, 6 - 9)